Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-11-18

tuo YsOSS - -
psnt.
ne nzseusasa - CAieass.
The following Il an account of the
last moments Of the condemned an
archists, who met their doom on FRI
day last:
It lacked just seven and half
minutes Of noon when single shroud-
cd figure passed the first post OF the
gallows. Spies looked calm and
glanced at the reporters with trace
Of his oId-time cynical smile. He
walked firmly over the drop guarded
by the grasp Of the deputy to the
furthermost edge Of the gallows'
Following close was Fischer, whose
countenance had a peculiar glisten
totally unlike the ashiness OF Engel's
heavy features and in strange con-
trast with the dead lack of color in
in the pinced lineaments OF Parsons.
The once jaunty, vivacious Texan
came last, withered old man. He
had aged twenty years since the day
and hour, scarcely twelve months be-
fore, when he triPpsd lightly into
court before Judge Gary and flippant-
" declared that he was ready to be
tried at once for his life. The min
ute his feet touched the scaffold, Par
sons seemed to completely lose his
identity and to feel that his spirit was
no longer part Of his body. He had
brought himself to an eostacy OF
solemn self-glorifcation. He, the
only American, seemed to realize to
the full extent that he must die in a
manner to impress if possible on all
future generations the thought that
he was martyr. No tragedian that
has paced the stage in America eve'
r made more marvellous presentation
of self-chosen part perfect in ever,
I detail. In the upward turn OF hi
$ eyes, his distant far-away look ant
a above all, the attitude OF apparen
g complete resignation that every fol-
of the awksrd shroud only served t
O make more distinct, he was by ia
n the most striking feature of the en-
n tire gallows picture. The form o
d Engel alongside with his wide-jawe
,r face made hideous the contrast I
Parsons assumption of the halo of
10 martyr. Fischer was head an
shoulders taller than the other tire
IS making his only occasional looks
), too evident bravado more noticeab
No than what might otherwise be sorl
rs disadvantage compared with tt
" steady GOODNESS of Spies. The latter
or exhibition of quiet, thorough nerv
-. far surpassed as a wonder the d
.tz meanor of any of his comrades.
ly Four burly deputies standing
is the rear of the four condemned m,
in began without delay to adjust Il
as ropes. Spies moose was the first OF
in placed. He did not appear to rega
1t of any more consequence than
ng new linen collar. The knot W
on slipped down the cord close agair
zee his neck. Spies did not show
en- tremor, but when the same proce
al was being carried out with Fisher
en- turned and quietly whispered to t
res bailiif some suggestions concerni
1t the rope. Fischer's occasional ard
is was quite noticeably lessened VIII
his he felt the hemp strand and Eng
les bit his under lip hard when his tn
os- came. Just then DR.. Murphy,
vi young physician standing back
ms Engel whisperlngly cracked a joke
rec Engel's ear. Incredible as it m
seem, the anarchist laughed outris
er, with the rope around his neck, a
wn while another was fastened on p
,ho sons by his side. But the grotesq
en- laugh stopped III single instant a
Persons meekly as saint cast
md eye upward at the dangling /
ON above him. Before the four
archists had an inkling of what '
srs. to be done, the white caps were d'
sen ly slipped upon their heads q
a drawn quickly down to their me-
,ro- shutting off the view of each as &C
ore, pletely and with less warning IL
nall does the camera cloth of the p
nty tographer. August Spies was
NIT first of the four doomed men To m,
ere use of his wits while he could. /
ov- tone of intense bitterness of spi
he he. the man who wrote the "Revel
of circular" Kissed out between
tightly clenched teeth: "There
att. come a time when our silence
and be more powerful than the voi
lver they are strangling to death"
L i l. l.